I had quite a pleasant Easter weekend, because besides really good food and some much-needed rest. I did spend a couple of days playing the demo version of Bishop Games upcoming 2D platformer/adventure game “Light Fall” (the full version is said to launch sometime in April for PC), and good thing that!

It doesn’t take long before you can start using your special abilities. For example, you can create platform-like cubes (you use something called “Shadow Core”) straight out of thin air (you can stand, walk and jump on them. The cube can also be used as a weapon).

You see, while I was playing the demo of “Light Fall” I couldn’t help to notice that the game is like a mix of “Limbo” (the main character and the world around him is pretty Limbo-Like), “Rayman” (the old-school platform aspect of the game), “Heart of Darkness” (all the deadly traps and “things” that try to kill you), “Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee” (the dark humor and the rather sad look of the world) “Sonic the Hedgehog” (you can run really fast if you want to) and “Portal” (the cube-like platforms which you can create out of thin air).

There are quite a lot of deadly traps to be found in the world of “Light Fall”. So be sure to keep your eyes open for traps, otherwise you’re going to end up dead in no time.

Even so, “Light Fall” still has its own unique features and twist going for it (such as the game’s plot, or the puzzle-solving moments where you use your cube-like object as platform or as a way to block lasers from hurting you). So it does really stand out for the crowd. I also found a liking to the main character since I truly wanted to know his story, and what his all about (when you start playing “Light Fall”, you know absolutely nothing about the game’s main character, or the world around him).

You will spot crystals here and there throughout the landscapes of “Light Fall”. They may be very beautiful, but don’t get fooled by their beauty, because the crystals are also deadly as hell.

Especially since the main character doesn’t speak (at least not to my knowledge, because I don’t recall him ever saying a single word throughout my gameplay video of “Light Fall”). In other words, I got motivated to keep on playing the game as I wanted to find out what has happened to both the main character and the world of Numbra (that’s the world where “Light Fall” takes place, and it’s a rather big and open world as well, and you can explore it as you wish).

Light Fall’s graphic and art design is extremely beautiful and breath-taking. Furthermore, the game’s story is very interesting. So much so that you keep on playing just to know what will happen next (most of the story is told via cut scenes or via your side-kick owl friend Stryx).

You know, now that I think about it. You actually get thrown into the world of Numbra like a new-born child of sorts, because you don’t know who you are, you can’t speak, and you have to figure everything out as you go (all while you’re trying to survive in a very deadly and dark world). Luckily enough for you and me though, you got a very wise and smart side-kick by your side in the shape of Stryx the owl.

You remember the deadly traps that I mentioned earlier? Well, you also have to keep your eyes open for dangerous creatures (such as the ones in this picture). Yes, you can kill your enemies. However, all that it takes for you to die is one single hit. So you have to be very quick and smart with everything you do.

And why is that? (so you might wonder) It’s because Stryx is like the Yoda of “Light Fall”. My point would be that his a teacher and mentor of sorts for the player. So in a philosophical kind of way, Stryx is literally your light in the dark. Especially at the very beginning of the game, as Stryx almost works as an interactive tutorial guide (Stryx learns you how to navigate through world of Numbra, all while using your special skills and powers).

I didn’t expect to experience any boat ride moments in “Light Fall” (most of the boat rides are a mix of puzzle solving and a lot of danger). So that was a very pleasant surprise I have to say.

In all honesty though, “Light Fall” is a very uncomplicated game in terms of controls and gameplay. So much so that just about anyone should be able to take on the game in just a couple of minutes. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that “Light Fall” will be a “walk in the park” kind of gameplay experience though, because “Light Fall” is anything but an easy game (and that comes from a guy who has played through “Cuphead” and “MiniDoom 2” on hard).

I for one had to work rather hard to pass through the later stages past ACT II (such as that one stage where you have to fight against time in-order to dodge huge and deadly waves of water). I also had to learn the hard way that the world of Numbra is full of dangers and things that want to kill you.

“Light Fall” is by no means an “easy” kind of game, because some of its stages are hard as nails (such as the one where you have to avoid huge water waves while smashing crystals).

So, yeah. “Light Fall” is most definitely not a game for those who suffer from anger-management problems, nor for those who have no patience. You simply have to play the game over and over again until you have become good enough to get past whatever stage or obstacle that you’re currently stuck at. Nevertheless, “Light Fall” rewards those who never give up by unveiling more of its story, the main character’s background and what the world of Numbra is all about (how things came to be, and what’s needed to be done in-order to save the world from eternal darkness and misery).

So, all in all, I have to say that I’ve had a very pleasant time with “Light Fall” (I’m currently stuck at the stage where you have to go through tons of lasers without being touched by a single one of them). As a matter of fact, I didn’t experience many down sides with the demo version of the game. However, the few things that I didn’t like with the game “might” actually get sorted out before “Light Fall” launches (which should be sometime this month).

Some of Light Fall’s puzzles are rather simple, while others might take a while to figure out.

For example, my single biggest concern with “Light Fall” is actually that I would love to see some more action in the game (and NPC characters that talk with you). It’s worth pointing out that I haven’t played through the whole game just yet though. So there might be more action aspects to be found in the game later on, as for here and now though. I still find “Light Fall” to be a really fun, beautiful and challenging 2D platformer/adventure game.

That’s also why I think that it’s going to be rather interesting to see what the full version of “Light Fall” will be like.

Pros:
+ Beautiful graphics and awesome artwork+ Fun puzzles that don’t take forever to solve+ There are quite a few things that can be collected and unlocked (hidden areas and whatnot)+ You can jump back and forth between finished levels as you please
+ Light Fall is a really nice mix of adventure, 2D platforming and puzzle solving+ The soundtrack is very well made+ The plot and background story is rather interesting

Cons:
– The high difficulty might be a turn off for some
– A little bit more action would have been nice
– They early demo had quite a few problems with the game’s controls
– The main character stays silent as the grave throughout the demo
– The world of “Light Fall” feels somewhat empty at times due to the lack of friendly and talk active NPC characters

Verdict: 4/5
“Light Fall” is a 2D platformer/adventure game that looks and feels as if it’s a mix of “Limbo”, “Rayman”, “Heart of Darkness”, “Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee”, “Sonic the Hedgehog” and “Portal”. Simply put, is a really fun, beautiful and challenging 2D platformer/adventure game.